Eugene "Jack" Spoehr

Eugene “Jack” Spoehr, age 91, a long-time resident of Chadds Ford, PA, passed away on June 26, 2022, at his home at Ivy Creek Gracious Senior Living in Glen Mills, PA, surrounded by family. 

Jack had a passion for learning!  He was born in Ferndale, MI, to Eugene Loy Spoehr, MD and Grace Ottillie (Decker) Spoehr.  His first school - Roosevelt Elementary School - was near a zoo, where his interest in animals began.  His high school, Cranbrook Academy, gave him not only an excellent education but connections with teachers and friends that lasted during his lifetime.  Jack continued his education at Harvard University, where he studied Biology and Anthropology.  He spent two of his college summers in rural Mexico with the Tarahumara Indians, giving him experiences that became part of his life’s story and his story-telling for the rest of his life. 

After graduation, Jack worked in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for United Fruit Company.  It was there that he met Olga Guardiola de Cruz. Returning to Michigan, they married in 1955 and were married 62 years, until Olga’s passing in 2017.  Jack and Olga are survived by their son Eugene “John” Spoehr Jr., his wife Ellen & grandchildren Luke & Emma, and their daughter Sandra Dreisbach her husband George Jr. & sons Eric, Jack, & Scott, who all live in Chadds Ford.  As well as his sister Marilyn Lund, her husband Bob Lund & their children Betsy Kathy & Eric, his brother-in-law Ralph Seizinger, his wife Zonia (deceased), and their children Daniel & Maryellen. 

Jack enjoyed people - he was a good listener, and a good story-teller, with a memorable sense of humor.  His abilities to connect with people served him well in his career as a sales representative for planetariums at McGraw-Hill, Bell & Howell, and Spitz Space systems, & finally for IMAX and Lightspeed.  Over his career, his sales territory covered half the world, and he met many interesting people in traveling & meetings with museums and city officials. 

Jack’s interests included reading & referencing books, photography, charcoal sketching, gardening, using his microscope, walking his dog at King Ranch, and observing nature & the sky at night.  He learned - and taught - Mandarin Chinese, and was still studying it into his nineties.  Fluent in Spanish, he taught an elective Spanish class at the local elementary schools in Chadds Ford in his retirement. 

To Jack’s five grandchildren, he was “Ganca,” the name given to him by Eric, his oldest grandson with whom he had a special bond.  He and Olga loved spending time with their grandchildren and helping to care for them at their home in Chadds Ford.  When they were young, Jack organized “Ganca Camp,” where he taught them about nature, underwater animals, and many other wonderful things about the world. 

Throughout his life, Jack maintained strong connections with long-time friends whose company he enjoyed, as well as making new friends. He loved any opportunity to share his own stories, and he loved getting to know the stories of others whom he met.  Three years ago, when he moved from Chadds Ford to his new home at Ivy Creek, he met and made many new friends among the residents there.  He was fortunate to be able to stay in his own place at Ivy Creek until his passing. 

Jack’s family would like to say “thank you” for the kindness and care that Jack received from his caregivers during his Bladder Cancer illness. 

Visitation will be from 9:30AM until 11:00AM with a memorial service at 11:00AM on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at the Longwood Funeral Home & Cremation of Matthew Genereux, 913 East Baltimore Pike, Kennett Square.  Inurnment will follow in Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery, West Chester.

To view services beginning at 10:45 AM via LIVESTREAM click here:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7naXiTnU8o  

In lieu of flowers, Jack’s family requests contributions made out to American Funds Service Company - FBO Eric Ashlar Dreisbach Trust – P.O. Box 2280 Norfolk, VA  23501-2280 

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